Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Seen: An Omegaverse Story
SERIES: Breaking Free #2
AUTHOR: A.M. Arthur
PUBLISHER: Briggs-King Books
LENGTH: 308 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2017
BLURB:
Hell is a six-by-six jail cell and no hope for the future.
Kell Iverson has never raised his hand against another person in his entire life—and yet somehow he’s been arrested and charged with the murder of his alpha mate Krause. Sure, Krause brutalized him on a daily basis, and Kell hated his mate, but he never wanted the man dead. Not fighting the charge and accepting his fate is the easiest path—except Kell doesn’t think he’ll survive a week in prison, and he doesn’t want to disappoint his younger brother Braun by giving up. He also doesn’t expect to recognize the lawyer who shows up to defend him.
Ronin Cross was barely eighteen when he felt the mating bond with then-fourteen-year-old Kell, but his family moved away before Ronin could decide what to do. For the last ten years, he hasn’t forgotten teenage Kell, hasn’t mated, and now he’s in Sansbury Province to defend adult Kell from a capital murder charge. The mating bond is still there, but now isn’t the time to pursue anything with his fragile, battered, emotionally-damaged client.
For Kell, the term “kind alpha” is a contradiction, because he’s never known one. He went from abusive father to abusive mate, and for twenty-four years, he’s simply done what he’s told. But Ronin asks Kell what he wants. What he likes. Ronin sees him, and it’s both confusing and delightful. But Kell is facing prison time at best, execution at worst, and as his trial date looms, he can’t indulge in a fantasy that will never come true…or can he?
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
REVIEW:
First and foremost, before anything else, I MUST stress, if you have any kind of triggers related to abuse, sodomy, rape, beatings, etc. Please take care in this book. Things get graphic in this one for a reason. It’s a court trial and the bastard is a sadistic asshole as well as his father. Things come to light during the course of the trial that show premeditated acts. If you can’t stomach it, please take care of yourself first. If you can stomach it, then damn, this was one hell of a book. I started crying from the first page and didn’t stop until it was over. Whether tears of empathy of pain, or of rage, of sadness or of happiness, Kell had my heart fluttering emotionally through this book. Also this book is not a standalone. You NEED to read book one.
Kell. Gah, Kell. From the time his Omegin died, life has just sucked. His father beats him all the time. He tries to get to Braun too, but Kell does his best to protect him. On his 14th birthday, he decides to go buy himself a treat and one for Braun too. But two alphas come near him and he’s scared. Ronin sees the alphas and scares them away. Ronin and Kell have been becoming friends. Ronin being four years older is noticing things, though, that Kell hasn’t yet. Ronin has found his bondmate. He’s not totally sure that’s what it is but he’s pretty positive. Kell notices there is a scent about Ronin that is causing his stomach to flutter and his body to pay attention, but doesn’t understand what it is and blows it off. Kell doesn’t think Ronin would ever pay attention to him that way anyway. On the way home from the store, Kell is attached by those to alphas, and Ronin comes running to save the day. Ronin promises to teach Kell some defensive moves, but before they can really get started, Ronin and his family move away. Kell didn’t even get to say goodbye. Now 10 years later, Ronin is back and he’s defending Kell in court. Kell doesn’t want to hope though. He doesn’t remember what happened, and his dead mate’s father is trying to kill him and his family. The smells are there again and Kell recognizes Ronin as his bondmate, but with all he’s been through, he can’t. He knows Ronin wouldn’t be able to handle being with him when the truth of all the abuse came out. And Ronin wouldn’t be able to handle Kell’s scars. Ronin has his work cut out for him. But he’s determined to show his omega that he should be pampered and treated like a king. He even submits to Kell and does things to Kell that blow his mind. Bu nothing is ever done unless Kell says so. Through the trial things get bad. Videos are found and the people trying to make Kell look bad, get destroyed for what they did to Kell. But other events come up and Kell is forced to make a decision that is what needs to be done to save his family. It’s hard but in the end it’s worth it.
Sweet, sweet Kell. I’m starting to cry again with all that happened to this sweet soul. The more evidence that came up in the trial, the worse it got. People tried to blame it on Kell, but it backfired. And the true colors of his dead asshole mate, his father, his mate’s father and their friends come to life. And it’s horrid. It’s vomit inducing. It’s sick and sadistic. The abuse he had to suffer at these people’s hands is unbelievable. And no one would stick up for him. Braun tried once and almost got raped for his part. And my heart breaks even further for this beautiful Kell, who feels so unlovable and unworthy. Who’s heart is as big as the earth, but can’t hold on to hope anymore. He is a shell now. But with help from his brother Braun and his mate Tarek, Dex and Serge, and Ronin, life starts getting breathed back in. Ronin is perfect. When Kell is skittish, Ronin gets low on his level to help. He doesn’t touch unless asked, doesn’t enter Kell’s room unless asked. Doesn’t do anything unless asked. He is completely patient and still, knowing Kell will have to come to him in his own time. No matter how much his alpha fights him on it. Ronin refuses to rush Kell. Instead, he submits himself to Kell at times. He pampers him any way he can. He cooks for him, helps in baths, massages him, snuggles him, caresses him, nothing sexual. But making his presence feel safe. Secure. He’s everything Kell has ever needed and he plans on making up for lost time. I love these two. No matter what Kell has been through or is going through, Ronin is the rock, the alpha Kell needs. And even with all the abuse that is endured, it’s a beautiful love story for a broken man who needs love in the worst way.
Go read this series. You will fall in love. Yes things are harsh and rough, but justice can prevail. Hope can endure. Love can transcend. And new lives can be reborn.
RATING: 
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